2015 disaster looms large as Muslims descend on Saudi Arabia for hajj

Pilgrimage to begin on Friday amid dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which has accused Saudis of ‘murdering’ pilgrims in stampede last year

Up to 2 million Muslims from around the world have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj pilgrimage amid a diplomatic war of words between the Saudi regime and the Iranian government over last year’s disaster.

More than 2,400 pilgrims were crushed to death in 2015, and some fear a repeat despite fresh security measures for the hajj, which begins on Friday and lasts five days. More than 27,000 security personnel will be deployed around the holy sites at Mecca and Medina.